Tailing blunt-ended DNA fragments with TaqDNA Polymerase allows efficient cloning of these fragments into T-Vectors such as the pGEM^®-T Vectors. This method also eliminates some of the requirements of conventional blunt-end cloning — Fewer steps, who can argue with that?

Traditionally,  efficient cloning of blunt-ended fragments into a vector required several steps. The vector needed to be dephosphorylated with either Calf Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase (CIAP) or bacterial alkaline phosphatase.  Dephosphorylatig the vector kept it from religating to itself; it also meant you had to purify the vector before you could proceed with the ligation step. In addition, you often had to modify your ligation buffer by adding polyethylene glycol (to crowd the molecules together) and a low amount of ATP. And then you had to use high concentrations of T4 DNA Ligase and lots and lots of your precious insert.

Tailing your blunt-ended insert with TaqDNA Polymerase and cloning it into a T-Vector eliminates a number of these steps.  You do not need to dephosphorylate your vector, and so there is no need to purify it.  It is also unlikely that you will have to muck about with your ligation buffer. And even though the recommended molar ratio of insert to vector falls anywhere between 8:1 and 1:8, it is unlikely you will end up using more insert than you would have with blunt-end cloning.

Can’t wait to get started? Here is what you do.

Blunt-ended restriction digest products

1. Use 1–2µl of the DNA fragment.
2. Add 1µl of Taq DNA Polymerase Reaction 10X Buffer.
3. Add 1µl of 25mM MgCl₂
4. Add dATP to a final concentration of 0.2mM.
5. Add 5 units of Taq DNA Polymerase.
6. Add Nuclease-Free Water to a final volume of 10µl.
7. Incubate at 70°C for 30 minutes.

Blunt-ended PCR Fragments

Are you wondering if there is a way to tail your blunt-ended PCR fragments that were amplified with a proofreading DNA polymerase like Pfu DNA polymerase? Of course there is, and here is what you do.

1. Use 1–7µl of purified PCR fragment.Note: The fragment must be purified or the proofreading enzyme will continue to remove the A-overhangs created by the Taq DNA Polymerase.
2. Add 1µl Taq DNA Polymerase 10X Reaction Buffer with MgCl₂.
3. Add dATP to a final concentration of 0.2mM.
4. Add 5 units of Taq DNA Polymerase.
5. Add Nuclease-Free Water to a final volume of 10µl.
6. Incubate at 70°C for 15–30 minutes.
7. Use 1–2µl in a ligation reaction.

The A-tailed fragments can be cloned directly into the pGEM^®-T vectors without further purification. Intrested in saving a bit more time? Consider using the pGEM^®-T Easy Vector System, which allows you to remove your insert with a single BstZI, EroRI or NotI digest.

Want to learn more? The Cloning chapter of the Protocols and Applications Guide (Promega) have a lot of useful information.

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Kelly Grooms

Scientific Communications Specialist at Promega Corporation

Kelly earned her B.S. in Genetics from Iowa State University in Ames, IA. Prior to coming to Promega, she worked for biotech companies in San Diego and Madison. Kelly lives just outside Madison with her husband, son and daughter. Kelly collects hobbies including jewelry artistry, reading, writing and knitting. A black belt, she enjoys practicing karate with her daughter as well as hiking, biking and camping.

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